before i lay me down
jgp   nov 97


some enthusiasms
some thoughts
avoiding dull somehow
reading until 2:00 a.
fanning the mental dust
(some say not a careful man)
what should i tell you
something new
nothings new
i think new
i think  (used to otherwise)
there is no original thought 
but a generous supply of re-
filtered muse  (borrowed)
i suppose there's much to  (done)
be in between streams 
of spacious non-sense
as a boy i wouldn't
drink my tea
i wanted to speak
but had no words 
no nerve  (the cat-held
my tongue in a safety deposit 
box along with self esteem
and some crisp folds of paper)
i was average
and hated mediocrity 
mute hating silence
thinking but upstream 
was i  (sure i was)
a ragamuffin
and there's a point
(an intersection really)
when of all things
i consider from my present
porch - i look down at
the lower branches which 
were rotten  (even)  then
somehow memorable.